Protection of Transmission

lines (Distance Protection)

By,
Rohini Haridas
Assistant Professor,
Dept of Electrical Engineering,
SSGM College of Engineering,Shegaon
 As the length of electrical transmission line is
generally long enough and it runs through open
atmosphere, the probability of occurring fault
in electrical power transmission line is much higher
than that of transformers and alternators .

That is why a transmission line requires much more

protective schemes than a transformer and an
alternator.
 Features of protection of transmission line
1. During fault, the only circuit breaker closest to the fault point
should be tripped.

1. If the circuit breaker closest the faulty point, fails to trip

the circuit breaker just next to this breaker will trip as back up.

2. The operating time of relay associated with protection of line

should be as minimum as possible in order to prevent
unnecessary tripping of circuit breakers associated with other
healthy parts of power system.
 The main methods of transmission line
protection

1. Time graded
over current protection 4.Differential protection

2. Current graded over 5.Carrier current protection

current protection.

3. Distance protection.
 Protection of Radial Feeder
In radial feeder, the power flows in one direction
only, that is from source to load.

This type of feeders can easily protected by using

either definite time relays or inverse time relays.
Line Protection by Definite Time Relay
ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

simplicity If the number of sections in

the line is quite large, the time
during fault, only setting of relay nearest to the
nearest CB towards the source, would be very long. So
source from fault point during any fault nearer to the
will operate to isolate source will take much time to
the specific position of be isolated. This may cause
the line. severe destructive effect on the
system.
Over Current Line Protection by Inverse
Relay
Over Current Protection of Parallel
Feeders
Protection of Ring main system
The two lines leaving the generating stations should be equipped
with non-directional over current relays ( in this case relay 1 and 8)
At each bus directional relay should be placed in both
incoming and outgoing line (2,3,4,5,6,7)
Direction of tripping should be away from the bus.

**If the direction of flow of power is same as that of the direction of relay
then only relay trips
There should be relative time setting of the relay. Going
round the loop E-A-B-C-D-A-E, the outgoing relays
are set with decreasing time limits (relays 1,3,5,7)
Similarly Going round the loop in opposite direction E-
A-D-C-B-A-E, the outgoing relays are set with
decreasing time limits (relays 8,6,4,2)
Direction of tripping should be away from the bus
Protection of Ring main system
 Current graded protection

**The short ckt current along the length of protected ckt decreases with
increase in distance between supply end and fault point
 Difficulties in current graded protection
1. The relay can not discriminate between the fault in the next section and
the end of first section.

**Hence for discrimination the relays are set to protect only part of the line,
usually 80%

2. fault currents are different for different types of fault so difficulty

experienced in relay setting

3. For the ring mains, parallel feeders ,where power can flow to fault from
either direction , a system without directional control is not suited.

For this reason current grading alone can not

be employed
Distance protection of transmission line
Three step Distance protection
(FIRST STEP)
Three step Distance protection
(FIRST STEP)
Three step Distance protection
Three step Distance protection
Three step Distance protection
 Step Reach Operating Time Remarks
First 80 to 90% of line Instantaneous i.e. No 1. Provides primary protection to line
Step Section intentional time delay upto 80 to 90%
(T)

1. Provides primary protection to the

Second 100 % of line section T + Selective time
Step under consideration interval =T1
+50% of adjoining line
part of line left out of first step (20
to 10%.
2. Full Backup protection to line
section under consideration
3. Backup protection to next line upto
50%

Third 100 % of line section T1+ Selective time 1. Full Backup protection to line
Step under consideration interval =T2 section under consideration
+100% of adjoining line
+ 10 to 20% Extra 1. Full Backup protection to next line
Three step Distance protection
Three step Distance protection using
mho relay
 Comparison between Distance Relay
Factors Simple Reactance relay Mho relay
impedance relay

Operating Directional
Current Current
quantity element
Restraining Directional Voltage
voltage
quantity element
Directional No No Yes
property
Effect of fault Under reaches Reach
resistance Under reaches
unaffected

Area occupied Moderate Very large Smallest

on R-X diagram
Overload or overcurrent protection
Combine overcurrent and earth fault
protection